It's ironic. The term used in cyberspace to get folks to read what you write, to keep in touch with your activities and thoughts, is simple: "Follow Me". How do we know a person is following us? Well, for one, they click on your name and put their name on your list of followers. Their little picture shows up in your profile. They are identified with you. But do they really follow you and care what you are about? Jesus had many people who claimed they wanted to follow Him. Remember the rich young ruler?
"When Jesus heard this, he said to him, "You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." Luke 11:22. NIV (©1984)
Here we see Jesus' answer to the rich young ruler who'd followed every commandment but now wanted to know how to inherit eternal life. Jesus was tough on him. Just because the ruler did all the right things, and said all the right things, he still held onto his wealth. Jesus told him to sell all he owned, and give it to the poor, then he'd have treasure in heaven. Then he could "follow" Jesus.
Ever wonder what Jesus would say you need to do in order to "follow" Him? Perhaps you already know. Perhaps it is your own system of belief or non-belief. Perhaps it is simply the same thing that the rich young ruler lacked--faith. He trusted in his own behavior, his own allegiance, his own thinking, actions and observance of what he knew to be perfect. Yet it was not enough.
He held onto his own view of what was needed. When it was made apparent that he truly wasn't committed to following Jesus, he went away sad.
Do you know someone who is disheartened? Do you know someone who cannot let go of his own "whatever", which keeps him from following Jesus?
I'm very careful with those I click on "to follow". I want to be sure that the people I follow share a common bond in Christ. Jesus wasn't all that interested in the throngs; He was interested in the faithful--those who would not turn away when His way got rough, when they could not see the path before them. He wanted followers who truly wanted to know Him and enjoyed His presence. For me, that makes following Him all the more appealing. How about you? selahV
